1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve? NOTE: Do not assume that the stasis of the play is the same as the stasis of the video version that you are required to see. Only discuss the play in this and answers to the following questions.
The stasis of the play occurs in 1991 at Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The play revolves around a Jewish Rabbi whose car hits two African American children which leads to the injury of one and the death of another. On top of this, the death of a Jewish man occurs in response to this. Afterwards, a riot between the two races begins to occur.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Fires in the MIrror and how is it broken?
The intrusion in the play is actually pretty hard to determine but ultimately I believe that this is when the death of the seven year old occurs. This leads to the death of multiple other people in different contexts. One being the killing of Yankel and another being the killing of those who were involved in the riots.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: the unique factor may have something to do with you? How does the title figure in your answer?
I think the Unique factor was when Gavin was killed by the car and subsequently the brutal killing of Yankel resulted. I believe that the title "Fires in the Mirror" means that when the violence aimed at the black community occurs that a mirror effect in the Jewish community will occur. Especially as fire represents anger, violence, and negative factors as such in my perception.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will the black community get justice for the Gavin? Will the Jewish community get justice for Yankel?
5. Use the narrator of the work to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing the narrator.
I think the obstacle that frustrates the flow of the play is Me against Society and when I say "Me" I mean the entire black community against the Jewish community. There are clear tensions between the groups which lead to many issues throughout the play. Particular instances would be the riots, killings, and ethnic/racial tensions.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Fires in the Mirror.
I believe the most theatrical moment is when he father was getting very emotional about his son who got killed.
The stasis of the play occurs in 1991 at Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The play revolves around a Jewish Rabbi whose car hits two African American children which leads to the injury of one and the death of another. On top of this, the death of a Jewish man occurs in response to this. Afterwards, a riot between the two races begins to occur.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Fires in the MIrror and how is it broken?
The intrusion in the play is actually pretty hard to determine but ultimately I believe that this is when the death of the seven year old occurs. This leads to the death of multiple other people in different contexts. One being the killing of Yankel and another being the killing of those who were involved in the riots.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: the unique factor may have something to do with you? How does the title figure in your answer?
I think the Unique factor was when Gavin was killed by the car and subsequently the brutal killing of Yankel resulted. I believe that the title "Fires in the Mirror" means that when the violence aimed at the black community occurs that a mirror effect in the Jewish community will occur. Especially as fire represents anger, violence, and negative factors as such in my perception.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will the black community get justice for the Gavin?
Will the Jewish community get justice for Yankel?
5. Use the narrator of the work to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing the narrator.
I think the obstacle that frustrates the flow of the play is Me against Society and when I say "Me" I mean the entire black community against the Jewish community. There are clear tensions between the groups which lead to many issues throughout the play. Particular instances would be the riots, killings, and ethnic/racial tensions.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Fires in the Mirror.
I believe the most theatrical moment is when he father was getting very emotional about his son who got killed.